LncRNA Research

Towards systematic and functional annotation of LncRNAs

Importantly, systematic and detailed lncRNA annotations, subclassification and analyses are packaged in our sample-to-results microarray services to gain insight into the complex biology of lncRNAs. All the reported LncRNAs involved in biological processes, such as apoptosis, differentiation and development, or associated with human diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, are comprehensively annotated and cross referenced. This rich source of information helps to unravel functional roles and molecular mechanisms of the LncRNAs.

Genomic context. LncRNAs are systematically classified based on their genomic relationships with the protein coding genes into Intergenic (LincRNA), Intronic, Bidirectional, Sense-overlapping, Antisense and Pseudogene LncRNAs (Fig 1), to help dissect potential regulatory functions in cis or trans, at transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels.

Figure 1. LncRNA classification and subgroups in various genomic context with the protein coding gene (Top). LncRNAs may regulate gene expression by various mechanisms, such as recruiting chromatin modifiers/remodelers to epigenetically regulate gene expression; by enhancer RNAs; by nuclear substructures; by nuclear-cytoplasmic transport; by competing endogenous RNAs via miRNAs; or by mRNA stability and translation; in cis or intrans, at transcription or post-transcriptional levels (Bottom).

Highly conserved LncRNAs. LncRNA genes containing ultraconserved regions (UCR) or harboring ultraconserved non-coding elements (UCNEs) are represented as sequence conserved to be biologically important. Human lncRNAs syntenic to stringent lncRNAs in other species are also collected even with only modest homology, as genomic context rather than overall sequence conservation may be more relevant in gene regulation [1].